In today’s world, even the most private aspects of life do not bypass digital technologies. However, as specialists have found, “smart” sex toys controlled via smartphones can pose a genuine hazard to your privacy.
A striking finding was made by the publication Wired: applications for “smart” sex toys gather a shocking quantity of data. This concerns not only usage frequency and intensity settings, but also geolocation, IP addresses, and sometimes even partner details.
Real Dangers
Device manufacturers assure that they gather information exclusively for product refinement and more precise ad targeting. Nevertheless, experts Chris Houck and Paul Bischoff caution: the collected intelligence might reach both third parties and malicious actors in case of a data breach.
A telling incident took place in 2015 when the SiimeEye vibrator from Svakom came under scrutiny. The gadget was equipped with a camera and featured a significant flaw—a default password of eight eights, which the maker carelessly published in the manual.
The consequences of this carelessness were stunning: anyone within Wi-Fi range could connect to the broadcast. This episode resulted in the company being forced to withdraw the problematic model from production.
The situation has not improved today. Experts point to two primary risks:
Leakage of personal information, including intimate specifics.
The capability for remote manipulation of the device by wrongdoers.
Why This Is Risky
Sex toys are now quite widespread, partly due to their low cost. This plays into the hands of cybercriminals.
“Scammers are always drawn to mass-market products: the average person rarely worries about privacy and data security, and some gadgets can collect very sensitive user information,” stated information security specialist and CyberSystem founder Ivan Anufriev in a conversation with “Izvestia.”
Cybercriminals see numerous prospects in “smart” toys:
Gaining entry to financial data;
Building botnets for sending spam;
Infiltrating the home network;
Using the item for extortion.
The intimate gadget marketplace is constantly evolving: new models of “smart” sex toys emerge continuously. However, as information security expert Ivan Anufriev notes, many of them suffer from one considerable drawback—weak defense against cyber threats.
Security expert Alexey Mironov from Stakhanovets explains: “smart” sex toys are essentially Internet-connected devices with heightened vulnerability.
The core issue resides in the manufacturers’ approach. They focus on:
Gadget functionality;
Stylish aesthetics;
The user experience.
Meanwhile, security frequently remains in the background. This leads to the development of serious flaws in the software, communication protocols (especially via Bluetooth), and mobile applications.
“Users face two main threat categories. The first is a privacy threat: through a compromised device or app, attackers can obtain extremely private facts, like usage history, audio recordings, or even video. The second, more perilous one, is the threat of physical command, where a criminal can remotely steer the gadget’s operation, which risks psychological trauma and actual physical harm,” remarked Alexey Mironov.
How to Safeguard Yourself
Specialists advise adhering to simple yet effective guidelines:
Procure devices only from trusted manufacturers.
Do not neglect to change default passwords. Pay close attention to the permissions the application demands.
Utilize only secured connections via Bluetooth.
Steer clear of public networks.
Disconnect the item from the internet when it is not in use.
By observing these straightforward precautions, one can substantially lessen the probabilities of critical personal data leaks, financial loss, and blackmail attempts by malicious entities.
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